Hertsmere Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2015

What are the Indices of Multiple Deprivation?

The Indices of Deprivation are produced by the Department for Communities and

Local Government and calculate local measures of deprivation within the 32,844

Lower-layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in England. LSOAs are made up of 4 to 6

output areas and have populations of approximately 1500 people.

The 2015 Indices of Deprivation are based on 37 separate indicators, organised

across seven distinct domains of deprivation which are weighted and combined to

calculate the Index of Multiple Deprivations (IMDs). The LSOAs are then ranked from

1 (the most deprived) to 32,844 (the least deprived). For ease, LSOAs are sometimes

ranked by decile with 1 being the most deprived and 10 being the least. It’s important

to note that the IMDs are a not a measure of affluence and deprivation levels may

vary from household to household.

This report focuses on:

How each LSOA stands within Hertsmere

Which domains of deprivation affect LSOAs more than others

How Hertsmere has changed since 2010

Where Hertsmere compares to the other districts in Hertfordshire

This data will be useful when commissioning services as it provides an insight into

issues affecting areas in Hertsmere.

Hertsmere overall

Hertsmere district’s average deprivation rank across its 62 LSOAs is 21,818 which is

slightly below the Hertfordshire average of 22,160. However, Hertsmere is a very

diverse borough with varying levels of deprivation with overall IMD levels of LSOAs

ranging from 3,049 (Borehamwood Cowley Hill 006C, the most deprived LSOA in

Hertfordshire and in the top 10% most deprived nationally) to 32,695 (Bushey Heath

013C in the top 1% least deprived nationally).

LSOA Domain Breakdowns

Education, skills and training domain

The Education, Skills and Training Deprivation Domain measures the lack of

attainment and skills in the local population. The indicators fall into two sub-domains:

one relating to children and young people and one relating to adult skills.*

Hertsmere has an average rank of 20,294 within this domain. However, there are

significant differences at LSOA level. Borehamwood Cowley Hill has the two most

deprived LSOAs in Hertsmere for education and Aldenham East and Elstree both

have some of the least deprived.

Crime domain

The Crime Domain measures the risk of personal and material victimisation at local

level.*

Hertsmere has an average rank of 22,211 within this domain. Hertsmere generally

has a low risk of crime and this is reflected in the IMDs. Potters Bar Oakmere and

Borehamwood Cowley Hill have the most deprived two LSOAs in Hertsmere for crime

and Bushey Heath has the least two deprived.

Barriers to Housing and Services Domain

The Barriers to Housing and Services Domain measures the physical and financial

accessibility of housing and local services. The indicators fall into two sub-domains:

‘geographical barriers’, which relate to the physical proximity of local services, and

‘wider barriers’ which includes issues relating to access to housing such as

affordability.*

The most deprived domain in Hertsmere is the Barriers to Housing and Services

domain. 61.29% of LSOAs in Hertsmere are ranked in the most deprived half of

LSOAs nationally and the average rank in Hertsmere is 13,203. The most deprived

areas in this domain are Aldenham West 010A, Shenley, Borehamwood and parts of

Potters Bar.

Living Environment Domain

The Living Environment Deprivation Domain measures the quality of the local

environment. The indicators fall into two sub-domains. The ‘indoors’ living

environment measures the quality of housing; while the ‘outdoors’ living environment

contains measures of air quality and road traffic accidents.*

Hertsmere has a good living environment with an average ranking of 22,980. The

most deprived living environment LSOA in Hertsmere is Bushey North 008D (13,381)

however, it is in the top 60% least deprived nationally.

Health Deprivation Domain

The Health Deprivation and Disability Domain measures the risk of premature death

and the impairment of quality of life through poor physical or mental health. The

domain measures morbidity, disability and premature mortality but not aspects of

behaviour or environment that may be predictive of future health deprivation.*

Hertsmere’s health deprivation correlates closely with income deprivation and mainly

affects areas that are less affluent. Borehamwood Cowley Hill 006C has the worst

health with a deprivation level of 4,508 this contrasts massively with Aldenham East

005B which is in the top 1% least deprived in the country.

Income Deprivation Domain

The Income Deprivation Domain measures the proportion of the population

experiencing deprivation relating to low income. The definition of low income used

includes both those people that are out-of-work, and those that are in work but who

have low earnings (and who satisfy the respective means tests).*

Hertsmere is a relatively affluent area. However, there are a number of localised

pockets of deprivation in areas across the borough. The most deprived LSOAs in this

domain are Borehamwood Cowley Hill 006C, 006E (1,794 and 7,398 respectively)

and Potters Bar Oakmere 003C (7,972). This is in stark contrast to the more affluent

areas of Aldenham East 005B (32,693), Aldenham West 005B (32,411) and Elstree

010D (32,107).

This domain is further broken down into two income deprivation domains, one

affecting children and the other affecting older people. These domains provide a

deeper insight into deprivation levels in Hertsmere and highlight Borehamwood

Cowley Hill as the most deprived LSOA for both children and older people (3,173 and

1,941 respectively) and Aldenham East 005B as the least deprived for both children

and older people (32,295 and 32,557). Potters Bar Parkfield 001A has hidden levels

of deprivation as its deprivation levels for young people are much higher (10,538)

than its deprivation levels for older people (29,995).

*Income domain deprivation affecting younger people

*Income domain deprivation affecting older people

Changes since the 2010 IMDs

Generally, Hertsmere’s deprivation levels have improved since 2010 with over half of

LSOAs increasing in rank. Elstree 010C increased the most by 5493, which raised it

into the top 10% least deprived nationally. Only 14 LSOAs have fallen in rank,

Borehamwood Brookmeadow 007A dropped the most by 2210 (although it remains in

the fifth decile), followed by Borehamwood Cowley Hill 006C (-2043) and Potters Bar

Furzefield (-2022).

Hertfordshire Context

Hertsmere is a very diverse borough and is home to Borehamwood 006C, the most

deprived LSOA in Hertfordshire and one of the only 2 LSOAs within Hertfordshire to

be ranked in the most deprived 10% nationally. Conversely, Hertsmere is also home

to some of the least deprived areas in Hertfordshire such as Bushey Heath,

Aldenham East & West and Elstree. As a result of this, some of the more deprived

areas in Hertsmere can be hidden when comparing to county averages.

* All domain descriptions from The English Indices of Deprivation 2015

**All domain data from the gov.uk English Indices of Deprivation

***Mapping Tools: http://dclgapps.communities.gov.uk/imd/idmap.html